Pumpkin, Banana, Orange, Chocolate Chip Muffins

I am forever on the hunt for good pumpkin recipes. Pumpkin pie, bread, cookies, and bars have zero flavor to me.  Some add spices, but not enough.  After some research, I found that pumpkin is friends with many other ingredients like banana, orange, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and chocolate.  So, I looked at all of my and my mom’s pumpkin recipes to find a combination that would use all of these and have great flavor.  I finally created these pumpkin, banana, orange, chocolate chip muffins (or 4 friends).  I wanted them to have loads of flavor, but not a lot of fat.  I omitted butter and used a little bit of vegetable oil instead and used bananas and sour cream to keep them moist (I had to add chocolate though).  These are really easy and are good for breakfast, dessert, or a snack.

Pumpkin, Banana, Orange, Chocolate Chip Muffins (4 Friends)

2 cups flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

2 heaping teaspoons cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ cup sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

1/3 cup sour cream

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 small bananas, mashed

2 eggs

2 teaspoon vanilla

Zest of one medium orange

1 can pumpkin puree

3/4 cup dried cranberries (you can add more if you like)

3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (you can add more if you like)

Preheat oven to 350

Line a muffin pan with liners- about 20-22

In a small bowl sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Set aside

In a large bowl, mix both sugars, sour cream, vegetable oil, and mashed bananas with a hand held mixer or a spoon until combined

Add 1 egg in a time, beating well between additions

Add vanilla and orange zest

Add pumpkin and mix well

Add the dry ingredients and mix only until combined

Fold in dried cranberries and chocolate chips

Divide batter among muffin liners, filling about ¾ of the way full

Bake between 20-25 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean

Cool muffins in the pan for 5 min. then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely

If you only like chocolate chips, then add only chocolate chips.  If you only like dried cranberries, then add only cranberries.  I like a mixture of both since the tartness of the cranberries mixes well with the sweet pumpkin and the chocolate makes it more decadent.  Enjoy!